Pinguiculas

Pinguiculas, commonly known as butterworts, are a genus of carnivorous plants in the family Lentibulariaceae. The genus comprises roughly 70 species of small rosette-forming perennials adapted to nutrient-poor environments.

Distribution and habitat: They are distributed across temperate and tropical regions of Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. They typically inhabit wetlands, bogs, rocky outcrops, and grassy meadows, often on soils with low nitrogen content. Many species grow in full sun to light shade and prefer consistently moist, well-drained soil.

Carnivory and digestion: The leaves are covered with glands that secrete a sticky mucilage. When small insects land on the leaf surface, they adhere to the mucilage and are gradually digested by enzymes secreted on the leaf, allowing the plant to absorb nutrients, particularly nitrogen and minerals. This passive trap suits nutrient-poor substrates.

Growth, reproduction, and life cycle: Butterworts are herbaceous perennials that form rosettes. They produce one or more flowering stalks bearing tubular bilaterally symmetrical flowers in spring or summer. After flowering, many temperate species enter a rest period during adverse conditions.

Cultivation and care: In cultivation, Pinguiculas prefer bright light, moderate to cool temperatures, and high humidity. They are typically grown in a well-draining, nutrient-poor medium such as a mix of peat or sphagnum with sand or perlite. Do not use mineral fertilizers; water with low-mineral irrigation, such as rain or distilled water. Some species require a winter dormancy, while tropical butterworts may be evergreen.